3 S. Ill. counties to recieve $52 million for school construction

School districts in Wayne, Clay and Marion counties in Southern Illinois are slated to receive more than $52 million in state funds for the construction of new schools. The money is part of $400 million in Gov. Pat Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now capital program to build new buildings, expand existing ones and replace outdated energy systems in schools across the state.

In Wayne County, the Wayne City Community Unit School District 100 will receive $19,788,352 from the state for the construction of a two-story, 41-classroom school to serve 555 students in prekindergarten to fifth grade, 300 students in grades 6-8 and 320 students in grades 9-12. The local school district's share of the project cost amounts to $6,596,117. The project will include the demolition of the 1930 and 1938 portions of the existing school.

In Clay County, the state is providing $22,493,512 for the construction of a one-story, 57-classroom school in Flora with a total design capacity for 1,500 students. The total project includes eligible land expenses. The local share of the Flora school district amounts to $7,497,837.

In Kinmundy, $10,200,580 will be provided to build an eight-classroom addition to the South Central Elementary School District No. 401. The money will also be used to build an eight-classroom addition to the South Central High School in Kinmundy and the renovation of the 1944 section of the existing high school. The local share of the project amounts to $3.9 million. The schools are located in Marion County.

In all, 24 school districts around the state will receive funding this fiscal year after their projects are certified by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Capital Development Board.